When Jeron Teng erupted for his career-high 30 points in a come-from-behind win against pesky Terrafirma last Saturday (February 19, 2022), he reminded all of us of who he is and what he can do: he is a walking bucket, a primetime scorer. His performance is a sort of a walk down memory lane.
This is the same Jeron Teng who sizzled with 42 points in his PBA D-League debut against Batangas. In college during his rookie year in 2012, he torched the then Bobby Ray Parks-led National University with 35 points. And lest we forget, he dropped 104 points against Grace Christian College while donning the Blue and Gold of the Xavier School Stallions in the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball League.
So far in this conference, the former King Archer has been averaging 14 points and 4 rebounds per game with the Alaska Aces, who are set to leave the PBA at the end of this conference. Since being drafted in 2017, Teng has been a steady contributor for the Aces, a vital if not valuable piece in their campaigns.
But in the same 5-year span with the Aces, the full potential of Jeron Teng being himself as a premier scorer has not been realized. This is primarily because of the philosophy employed by the team, “WE NOT ME.” Jeron Teng is an elite scorer who can take over a game easily for his team.
He proved it in all levels — high school, college, and semi-pro. In his last year in college with De La Salle, he was the X-factor for the Coach Aldin Ayo led-Archers to beat Coach Tab Balwin and the Ateneo Blue Eagles for the championship. His scoring, take-charge attitude and leadership was missed the next season when the Archers lost the championship to the Blue Eagles.
Now that Alaska is set to leave the PBA and is on an emotional farewell tour, it has awakened a scoring giant who has been waiting to be unleashed. Now better than ever, the former King Stallion and King Archer has new weapons in his arsenal and is ready to take over.
It is not too late for the league, which needs a fresh face. Jeron Teng is ready to take over and for the last games of the Alaska Aces, let it be the battle cry — “Let TENG take over.”